During this period Congress was divided politically as follows: Senate Twenty-Seventh Congress. 22 Democrats, 28 Whigs, 2 Independents House -103 Democrats, 132 Whigs, 6 Independents, 1 vacancy Total, 52 66 242 Twenty-eighth Congress. Senate 23 Democrats, 29 Whigs House -142 Democrats, 81 Whigs Total, 52 66 223 Election of 1844 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. Baltimore, Md., May 27-29, 1844. Temporary and permanent Chairman, NOMINATED HENDRICK B. WRIGHT, For President, James K. Polk, of Pennsylvania. of Tennessee. For Vice-President, George M. Dallas, Every state was represented at this convention except South Carolina. 325 delegates were in attendance, but they cast only 266 votes. After a day and a half of contention the two-thirds rule was adopted. The following is the result of the balloting: 1st. 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th. 8th. 9th In voting for a candidate for Vice-President, Silas Wright, of New York, received 256 votes on the first ballot, 9 being cast for Levi Woodbury, of New Hampshire. Mr. Wright declined the nomination. On the following day George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania, was nominated, receiving 220 votes. John Fairfield, of Maine; Levi Woodbury, of New Hampshire; Lewis Cass, of Michigan; Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky; Commodore Stewart, of Pennsylvania; Wm. L. Marcy, of New York, were also voted for. The following platform was adopted: DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. 1. Resolved, That the American Democracy place their trust, not in factitious symbols, not in displays and appeals insulting to the judgment and subversive of the intellect of the people, but in a clear reliance upon the intelligence, patriotism, and the discriminating justice of the American people. 2. Resolved, That we regard this as a distinctive feature of our political creed, which we are proud to maintain before the world, as the great moral element in a form of government springing from and upheld by the popular will; and we contrast it with the creed and practice of federalism, under whatever name or form, which seeks to palsy the will of the constituent, and which conceives no imposture too monstrous for the popular credulity. 3. Resolved, therefore, That, entertaining these views, the Democratic party of this Union, through the delegates assembled in general convention of the states, coming together in a spirit of concord, of devotion to the doctrines and faith of a free representative government, and appealing to their fellowcitizens for the rectitude of their intentions, renew and reassert before the American people the declaration of principles avowed by them on a former occasion, when, in general convention, they presented their candidates for the popular suffrage. Then resolutions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the platform of 1840 (see pages 41 and 42) were reaffirmed, to which were added the following: 13. Resolved, That the proceeds of the public lands ought to |